Almon robinson



A. ROBINSON.

PHAT MACHINE.

No. 61,464. Patented Jan. 22, 1867.

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IMPROVED PHAT MACHINE.

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TO ALL WEOMIT .MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ALMON Roniusos, of McLean, in the county of Tompkins, in the State of'New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Machines for Trcating'Peat;"and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof. 7

My machine operates on thepcat by grinding and compressing it in small rectangular masscs, suitable for being conveniently dried and handled. It overcomes many of the difiiculties experienced in the employment of other machines for this purpose, more especially those relating to the sticking of the p'eat to the surface of, the moulds, or

parts in which it is compressed. It is intended to operate on.the peat in a fresh state, or in partially dried condition. The machine, by reason of its peculiar construction and arrangement, is lighter, and requires less power to operate, and canbe constructed and attended more cheaply than any other known to me.

I will describe what I consider the best means of carrying'out my invention, and willafterwards designate the points which I believe to be'new. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. Figure 1 is a. side view of my machine.

Figure 2 is a plan View.

Figure 3 is a cross-section of .a part, on the line S S, fig. 2, with the presser up; and

Figure 3 is a part of the same, with the resser commencing to rise.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures. Tints are emp oyed to distinguish parts. I do not indicate material; The material for the rigid parts may beiron. g I

A is an endless apron, formed of pieces, a, joined together by knuckle-joints. Each piecea is composed of a horizontal and an upright part, and. forms the bottom and one side of the rectangular mould in which the peat is compressed. This apron is carried on two drums, B and B to either or both of whicha rotary motion is imparted from a steam engine, or other motor, not represented. The belt, furthermore, is supported by the small rollers C C. D D are toothed drurnspwhicharerotated at whatever speed'maybe necessary to produce' a tearing action on the material being treated. The peat, in a raw or partially manufactured state, is fed, by

hand or otherwise, into the hopper. E, and passes down on each side of the toothed dividing-piece, The latter carries teeth, f, which pass betiveenthe teeth d and d of the cylinders D and D The cylinders D and D are rotated by gearing, in the directions indicated by the arrows, and cut down the peat upon the apron A. A slide, e, serves as an adjustable gauge, to eontrol the height to which the peat may be delivered and carried on the apron. The apron revolves in the direction indicated by the arrows. As the peat is carried in the space in the moulds over the rollers c, it is crowded with great force into the moulds by the action-of the press G.- This press is carried on two cranks, H H, arranged on separate axes, turhing simultaneously, as will be obvious from the gearing represented. The motion of this presser G, when in or near its lowest position, coincides with the motion of the apron A; it follows that the material is pressed down with great force, without inducing rubbing or friction on the material; A great difliculty has heretofore beenexperienced in machines for thispurpose, in consequence of the adhesion of the material to the parts of the machine. I overcome this by means of loose cloths, peculiarly arranged. A cloth, g, is attached to the presser G, by means of suitable fastenings at each end, so that it can yield or bag down slightly, and in consequence of this arrangement the'surface is peeled oil, beginning at the ends and runinng gradually towards the middle, instead of being a simultaneous lift from the whole surface. I prefer for this use a closely woven linen or cotton fabric,but am not aware that any particular material is absolutely necessary. It should he a smooth and closely woven stuff. I provide a cloth, M, fitted very slack upon the apron A, and attach it to the outer edge of each piece a, as represented. This fabric is put on with just suilicient slack to allow of being pressed down nicely into the several rectangular compartments, which form moulds for the peat. The rolling of the endless apron A'ar'ound the drum B opens the moulds and stretches the cloth, so that it peels off the cloth and. excludes the moulded peat by-a motion which is exceedingly well adapted for the purpose. On the under side of the returning partof the apron the cloth may sag down in a curve, much as indicated in the drawings. On rising around the roller B, it is important to replacethe slack part of thecloth in the several moulds, so as to allow it to receive the peat properly. The roller I is adapted for this purpose, and is mounted in thei'rume J, turning on the axis 11. The gravity of this roller I and frame J can be increased or diminished by weights or springs; but I have found no difiiculty in the use ot the roller, allowing the gravity to act directly as represented. I propose to employ an upright shaft, having hori zontal blades adjusted somewhat obdiquely, so as to act on the principle of a screw, to cut and force down the raw peat in the hopper .E. I do not deemthis essential to the success ofmy machine. I propose to make the machine double or treble when desired, by simply placing two or more belts, A, side by side, or by increasing.

the width of these belts, and providing partitions in the several spacesor moulds, as will be obvious. The length of the cylinders D D, and the presser G, and the [several other parts, sbould"be, of course, correspondingly increased. I believe a wheel, acting in the place of my presser G, would not worl: so well, becauseit would force the peat backward on the apron instead of pressing it over the whole surface of each monlcl,.with a mo'tion at right angles with the travel of [the apron; and a. wheel would have to be' very large in diameter in'erder to reduce this fault so as to make such substit ute practicable. -I propose to have two or more of the compressors G arranged to act simultaneously or.i ntermittently upon the surface of the peat in the moulds, giving each mould two or more impressions. This may be efl'ected by simply duplicating the parts and increasing the length of the apron A. I have, by means of my experimental machine, produced bricks, or rectangular masses of peat, all nicely compressed, continuously, at the rate of thirty per minute,'the bricks being eight inches long, four wide, and three thick. g I I Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as followsi I 1. I claim the carrier moulds a 0, arranged relatively to each other, and to the grinding and depositing mechanism D D, or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. V i

2 I claim the presser G, in combination with the carrier moulds a a, and arranged to operate relatively thereto, substantially as herein specified.

3. I claim the slack-cloth 9, arranged on the presser G, so as to be pulled oil by a inotion commencing at the edge or edges, as represented and described, for the purpose herein specified. v

I 4.: I claim the slack-cloth M, arranged as herein shown, relatively to the section of -moulds a a, so as to unfold, peal ofl,.and expel, inthe manner and with the efi'e ct substantially as herein specified.

'5 I claim the roller I, arranged to pass into and out of the several moulds, and replace the slack-cloth M,

or its equivalent, in the manner herein shownl v ALMON ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

Wm. Amms, EMANUEL Conn. 

